Fuel economizer and carbon reducer



Mar. 3, i925. lLlzsos G. C. RUHMANN ET AL FUEL EcoNoMIzER AND cAmgoN REDUCER Filed Jan. 30. 1924 ThJ. 4

HVHHIH nanna v ATTORNEY said pipe 24 forming tions or kinks or bends in said pipes liable to establish a material resistance to the flow of the fluids. In order to enable the pipe 18 to be coupled to the cap 12, so as to permit said pipe to be disposed for a substantially straight direct flow of the fluid thereto, the nipple 14 is disposed at an oblique angle to the vertical axis of the cylinder 1l and cap 12, while in order to enable the pipe 19 to be disposed, so that said pipemay be extended to the carbureter 5 on as short a line as possible without interfering with the parts of the motor to which access must be afforded, the nipple 15 eX- tends horizontally from one side of the cap 12.

The cylinder 11 forms a separating' and collection chamber in which the steam and vapor are separated from the free water and water of condensation and the latter collected and discharged, allowing vapor only to flow through the pipe 19 to the carbureter. In order to secure this separating action in an efficient manner, the cap 12 is provided with a central diaphragm or deflector 20. This deflector 2O is integral with the cap and separates the nipples 14 and 15 from each other, so as to form an indirect path therebetween, causing the water and vapor enter- "ing through the pipe 18 to pass down into the cylinder 11, the water flowing by gravity into said cylinder while thelighter vapor is drawn by the suction of the engine through the pipe 19 into the carbureter, by which means the passage of any water' to the carbureter is avoided in a simple and e-Eective manner. The oblique angular disposition of the nipple' 14 provides for the vapor at a tangent against the adjacent side of the deiiector 20, thus effecting a physical separating action, in addition to that afforded by gravity, all moisture resulting from condensation or about to be condensed' being directed by the defiector 20 into the cylinder 11 and prevented from being sucked with the vapor into the pipe 19.

The bottom head 13 of the cylinder 11 is provided with a Ysuitable drain cock 21 whereby the water contents of the cylinder 11 may be manually drained therefrom whenever desired. We however yalso provide an automatic drain device inthe formv of siphon for periodically draining the water contents from the cylinderwhen such contents rise above a certain level. This siphon isof simple type and comprises a central elbow member 22, extending through one side of the cylinder 11, the inner branch` being threaded to receive a depending pipe 23 forming a short intake leg of the siphon, while the outer branch ofthe elbow is fitted to receive avdischarge pipe 24 adapted to beV connected therewith by a` coupling nut 25,

the arms 27 and 28 more striking of the entering water andl the outer longer dis-Vv charge leg of the Siphon. The horizontal arm of the elbow 22 is of the same diameter as the opening in the cylinder through which it passes, thus allowing said elbow to be inserted through the opening and fixedly secured therein Yin any suitable manner after passage of the elbow into the cylinder via one end thereof. When the elbow is thus fitted in position, the pipes 23 and 24 may be readily and conveniently connected therewith, making this part of the device easy of assemblage. Vhen the water in the lower portion of the cylinder 11 rises up to a predetermined level in the cylinder, it will lill the siphon and overflow in an obvious manner, whereby an automatic discharge of the water at predetermined periods will be effected. The pipe 24 may lead to any suitable point for the discharge of the expelled water upon the ground or for return to the radiator for reuse, as may be desired in service.

ln order to adapt the cylinder 11 to be secured in position upon the motor, so that the parts may be disposed in the manner described, a fastening bracket 26 is provided. rllhis bracket comprises a length of strap metal doubled upon itself so as to provide a pair of limbs 2T and 28 joined at one end by a clamping loop 29. The loop 29 is adapted to surround the cylinder 11 between the head 12 and pipe 24, and the material of which the bracket is made may have a suitable degree of resiliency so that in bringing or less together the loop 29 will be contracted to tightly grip the cylinder 11. Adjacent to the loop 29 the arms 27 and 28 are preferably provided with registering openings 3() for the reception of a fastening bolt 31 provided with a securing nut 32, whereby the loop 29 may be held in contracted condition and the arnis 27 and 28 prevented from springing apart at the point of juncture of the loop therewith. The arms 27 and 28 are of a length for proper adjustable fastening connection Y with the first two of the four stud bolts 9 and lto take the place of the twol forward yoke clamps 8 customarily employed for clamping the forward branches of the intake and exhaust manifolds to the motor. For this purpose, the arms 27 and 28 arek provided with sets of registering slots 33 for the passage of the stud bolts 9, and for sliding adjustable engagement with said stud bolts so that the bracket may be properly adjusted in position for the dual supporting and clamping action and to dispose the humidier 11 in proper position, the nuts 11 applied to said stud bolts being tightly turned up to hold the arms 27and 28 from spreading and the bracketfrom displacement, as will be readily understood. An adtendency of the arms 27 and 28 to spring apart causes the outer arm 28 to frietiona-lly bind against the nuts 10, holding said nuts securely against any possibility of working loose.

In the operation of the device, it will be apparent that the water and vapor flowing through the pipe 18 to the cylinder 11 will be separated in said cylinder, the water being deposited therein while the vapor is drawn off through the pipe 19 and sucked into the carbureter, where it commingles with the fuel charge flowing to the working cylinders. The fuel charge is thus impregnated with a moist vapor which expands therewith into gas in the cylinder, thus humidifying the charge so as to secure its more perfect combustion, thereby increasing its power and reducing the amount of unconsumed particles resulting in carbon deposits. By means of our 4invention this operation is ei'iiciently carried out during the working of the engine, without the use of complex parts which are difficult or expensive to install. rllhe device in fact may be manufactured and sold at a comparatively low cost and is of such type that it may be made to serve as an ornament-al adjunct to the engine structure.

AThe pipe 18, as shown, comprises two sections 18 and 18", coupled by an intermediate section 18. The section 18u is preferably in practice the usual overflow pipe which is cut olf at a point immediately below the bottom of the top water chamber of thc radiator and then joined by a hose connection 18c and to a short pipe section 18b which connects with the inlet of the econo mizer. By this means the economiser may be readily coupled to the usual overflow pipe in such manner that the intermediate or hose pipe section 18cr will form an elastic joint between the pipe members 182L and 18", providing a positive flow connection and at the same time forming a flexible coupling which will compensate for all vibrations or variations in movements between the radiator and economizer in the travel of the vehicle.

Having thus fully described our invention, we cla-im:

1. A humidifier of the type described adaptable for insertion between the radiator and intake manifold of an internal combustion engine comprising, a vertically disposed cylinder, caps closing the top and bottom of the cylinder, the top cap being provided with an intake nipple disposed at an oblique anglc upon the top portion thereof and connected to the radiator of the engine, and a discharge nipple extending horizontally from one side thereof, and connected to the intake manifold of the engine and also being provided with a vertically depending baille between said nipples, the intake nipple being arranged to discharge fluids against one side of said baffle, and means for discharging collected water from said cylinder.

2. A humidifier of the class described for `insertion between the radiator and the intake manifold of an internal combustion engine, comprising a cylinder closed at both ends, a baffle plate in one of said ends dividing the same into separate chambers each communicating with said cylinder, a liquid nozzle extending into one of said chambers at an angle so as to direct its stream against said baiiie plate, an outlet for the other chamber, and means for draining liquid from said cylinder.

In testimony whereof we aiix our signatures in presence of a witness.

GROVER C. RUHMANN. ELO E. PARKER. lVitness:

C. G. HALLMARK. 

